Worry Ends Where Faith in God Begins

As I write this, we are coming to the end of a super busy summer. School, in our area, starts August 14. We’ve had two weeks of camp, a week of Vacation Bible School, Bible Conferences, piano lessons, and, of course, for my husband work and sermon preparation and me, writing. We haven’t had a vacation, But, on August 10, my son graduates from Damage Control A school with the Coast Guard. I’m not sure this counts as vacation since we’ll be driving pretty much the whole time with little time for sightseeing, as we need to get back for church, school, work, and other duties. (I’m writing this at the end of July since my son will be home a few days and then I’ll be busy getting our homeschool up and running the week this publishes.)

He is living a life I have been so fascinated with ages. When we lived in Michigan, we lived near Grand Haven—the Coast Guard capitol. We went to the Coast Guard festival every August, toured the cutters, and talked to Coasties. Michael grew up dreaming of being one of them someday.

Me, being naïve, believed it was the military service of choice. They’ll be stateside. Safe. I had a lot to learn.

Did you know that during wartime, the Coast Guard is considered a department of the Navy? That Coasties are sometimes stationed in the Middle East? That they have top-secrets locations sometimes where they only thing their worried moms’ know is that they are somewhere in the Atlantic? That the job Coasties do are sometimes dangerous and yes, they do get killed in the line of duty?

Michael will be moving to his new station the week following his graduation—reporting on his birthday, a week to the day of graduation. (Happy birthday, son!) He prayed for a land unit and God blessed him with one. He wants to pursue his education while he is there, getting a double major in Criminal Justice and Environmental Science. His next dream job is a fish and wildlife officer.

We will be driving across country—Steve, me, and our two youngest daughters—to go to Michael’s graduation. Our oldest daughter will be in college, and I’m not sure of our oldest son’s plans. As far as I know, he is once again jobless. But I don’t know. He doesn’t communicate with us unless he needs something. And he’s burned so many bridges behind him, destroying his reputation in the process.

Our futures are all in God’s hands, He alone knows. Continue to keep us in your prayers. Both of my sons, my three daughters, my husband and I. I am fearful, worrying about so many things—ranging from finances, traveling so far, both of my sons, and more—and trying to hold tight to the promises of God.

When I had breast cancer a nurse gave me a plaque – “Worry Ends Where Faith in God Begins.” Beautiful. True. But so much easier to say than to do. I am by nature a worrier. A planner. And life never goes according to plan.

Related Posts:

Laura Hilton lives and writes in Arkansas, surrounded by her husband and five children. The author of inspirational novels about the Amish, she is also a book reviewer. Find Laura online at: her blog or Facebook page.

Comments

I’ll be praying for you Laura. I too, tend to worry, but I love that you said that worry ends where faith begins. I have to really watch myself and be careful not to worry. I catch myself just naturally worrying about so many things. I know that God doesn’t want that – He just loves it when we have faith, even when our circumstances press us to worry.